Right Side of the Brain

Send a text Artist Joanna Brendon in conversation with Nirjay Mahindru.  Joanna Brendon is probably best known for being the first Director of the concert hall, St John’s Smith Square (https://www.sjss.org.uk). Throughout her career, she has been involved with funding for the arts, working with the Royal Opera House, Royal Academy of Dancing, the Spanish Arts Festival and Sadler’s Wells. In 2005,...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru talks to Norfolk based artist Lynn Rutherford about her life, her stroke and her art.  Lynn suffered a major stroke in 2018 and hospital staff were convinced she wouldn't pull through.  Lynn retired from a life time working with children and young people. Art has always been important at work and for leisure. Lynn remembers nothing about her stroke. She knows that...

Send a text Sas Freeman was living the fairytale dream as a model, a television and film actress – which all came to an end overnight. Life changed drastically for the 45-year-old as the result of not one, but two back-to-back strokes  .After experiencing two strokes in her mid-40s, Sas has become an impassioned advocate for increasing stroke awareness and supporting fellow stroke survivors and th...

Send a text Trevor Phillips OBE ARCS FIC is a British writer, broadcaster and former politician. In March 2015, Phillips was appointed as the President of the Partnership Council of the John Lewis Partnership for a three-year term. His is the first external appointment since 1928. Phillips is deputy chairman of the board of the National Equality Standard, and other business appointments include ch...

Send a text Michelle Iglesias began her painting journey in 2004 after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31, which lead her to discovering the therapeutic value of creating art. She has since been exhibiting her paintings nationally and continues to develop her inherent skills in order to produce art of the finest quality. Much of her work consists of natural elements, including wat...

Send a text Waris Islam is an award-winning writer director with network credits in film, television and radio. He also practices as a Consultant on projects developing training courses, overseas and in the UK. He has written for BBC Radio drama, directed award winning short films 'Short' and 'The Family Portrait' and written a 'Coming Up' for Channel 4. Waris has als...

Send a text Lucy Smith spent 20 years working in the film industry before moving to the voluntary sector.  She is currently the philanthropy officer at Leonard Cheshire disability.  Lucy was integral to the creative collaboration between InterAct and Leonard Cheshire culminating in the creation of a radio play.  This interview was recorded during the period of the lockdown.  For more information o...

Send a text Megan Mckie Smith in conversation with the Chief Executive of Different Strokes, the charity dedicated to helping younger stroke surviviors.  For more details of the work of Different Strokes, please visit https://differentstrokes.co.uk  Support the show

Send a text Megan McKie Smith in conversation with actor and theatre director Ian Talbot.  For 20 years Ian was Artistic Director of the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, where he directed a few of his own musical hits over the years at the Open Air – High Society and The Boy Friend being examples and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director for his production of The Pirates Of...

Send a text Two guests in this podcast.  Hayley Youell of the Culture Health and Wellbeing alliance and Kiz Bangerh founder of Hip Hop Heals, both in conversation with Nirjay Mahindru.  Catch the latest events that will be occuring via the Alliance.  Details for the alliance can be found at www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk For Hip Hop Heals and Kiz's work, more details can be found at: ht...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru is joined by Che Walker. Che Walker studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and has worked with Edward Bond, Philip Ridley, Mark Ravenhill, Stellan Skarsgaard, Chris Penn and Robert David Mc Donald. His first play BEEN SO LONG premiered at the Royal Court theatre in 1998, starring Sophie Okonedo, and was runner-up for The John Whiting Awa...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with Juliet Bouverie, COE of the Stroke Association.   Juliet has been chief executive of the Stroke Association since June 2016. Prior to joining the Stroke Association,  Juliet worked at Macmillan Cancer Support for 16 years in roles including head of planning and policy, director of corporate development and executive director of services and influenc...

Send a text Megan McKie Smith in conversation with former yoga teacher Francis D'Angel about his life, and the circumstances of his stroke.  Francis is a regular attendee of Leonard Cheshire disablity in Wandsworth, an organisation InterAct has been working with.   Support the show

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru talks to stand up comedian Maureen Younger about her life and career. Maureen is a tri-lingual London Scot, she’s frank, fast, feisty, sharp, engaging – honest humour with attitude! Gigs include: Hackney Empire, The Stand, Hampstead Comedy Club, Upfront Comedy, Glee Club, Amused Moose Soho, Comedy Camp, Comedy Store, Up the Creek, Bearcat Comedy Club, Underbelly, Komedi...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru talks to Nick Ede about his life and work.   Nick has over 20 years of experience in PR and brand development and spent 15 years as Creative Director of EdenCancan PR in London. During those years he was lucky enough to develop strategic PR campaigns for brands including Lastminute.com, Puma, Channel Four, MTV, Spanx, Lipsy London, BBC Children In Need, Fox, News UK, li...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru talks to former nurse Lyndsey Dowding about her life, working in the NHS as a nurse for many years, her stroke, and the publication of her book "Charlie the Horse, Owl, and the Planning Application".  This interview was recorded in May 2020 during the lockdown period.   Lindsay Dowding  worked at the NNUH for 13 years, was taking part in a workshop in Potterga...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with Barry Macaulay, talking all things Stroke in relation to Northern Ireland.  Recently, Barry received a BEM in recognition of his commitment to Disability Sports. The medal recognises the positive contribution that Barry has made to the disability sports sector in Northern Ireland over a period of 27 years. Barry’s passion and dedication has made a s...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru interviews Professor Anthony Rudd, one of the UK's former leading clinician on stroke.  Anthony Rudd was Professor of Stroke Medicine at Kings College London, Consultant stroke physician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and the National Clinical Director for Stroke for NHS England and NHS Improvement.  He ran the stroke programme producing national stroke guideline...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru talks to theatre director Iqbal Khan about his life growing up in Birmingham, the influence of his mother and brothers, depression and feeling out of kilter with those around us, plus the state of British theatre today.   Iqbal began his directing career at the Leicester Haymarket and National Theatre Studio. His credits include: A Christmas Carol (Box Clever); Macbeth...

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru interviews Andrew Davis, the critically acclaimed photographer who suffered a stroke in 2013.  Andrew discusses his life, the world of professional photography, and the consequences of his stroke.  This interview was recorded in May 2020 during the lockdown period in the UK.   Support the show

Send a text Nirjay Mahindru talks to actor Rupert Graves about his early childhood in Weston Super Mare, his life as a professional actor, the stroke that affected his father, and Arsenal football club. This interview was recorded in May 2020 during the lockdown period in the UK following COVID 19.   Support the show

Send a text Pilot episode,  An interview with the founder of InterAct Stroke Support, former theatre director Caroline Smith about her life and the idea behind creating the charity.  InterAct are a charity that take professional actors into hospitals and read to stroke survivors.  For more information visit our website at www.interactstrokesupport.org  This interview was recorded on 12th May 2020...